Locking device for carcass-hangers.



G. A. RICHARDS. LOOKING DEVICE FOR GARGASS HANGERS. APPLICATION FILEDAUG.5, 1912.

1,072,871 Patented Sept. 9, 1913.

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Application filed August 5, 1912. Serial No. 713,361.

To all whom it may concern Be it known th at 1; CHARLES A; Bronanos,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Bellows Falls, in the countyof Windham and State of Vermont, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Looking Devices for Garcass-Hangersy of which thefollowing is a specification;

This invention relates to a device adapted to be used in connection withanimal car cass hangers to-hold the same properly in position while thecarcass is being split.

By the device herein described, it is sought to provide a simple,inekpensive form of lock adapted to be usedin Connection with movablecarcass hangers of any type whatever; one which is readily adjustable toany standard overhead rail upon which carcass hangers may be suspended,ahd which may be readily attached and detached; and a locking devicewhich operates effectively to hold the hangers apart at any point upontherail without any special construction or utilization of specialaccessories in connection therewith.

The invention further consists in the features of construction andcombination of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawing; Figure 1 is a perspective view of an animal carcasssuspendedupon movable hangers and in position to be split;

Fig.4 2 is an enlarged fro-nt elevation o the device in locking positionuponthe rail; and Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the device in the sameposition.

Animal carcasses are usually suspended upon movable hangers which areadapted to travel upon an overhead rail, so as to be conveniently movedfrom place to place. When it is desired to split the carcass, thehangers to which the legs of the animal are usually secured must bespaced apart in order to facilitate this operation. Various means havebeen devised for locking the hangers in such positions, usuallyinvolving expensive and cumbersome apparatus located fixedly at somepoint adjacent the overhead rail. .t is the provision of a simpleadjustable locking device readily attachable and detachable at any pointupon the ordinary type of rail, that the present invention is designed.

As shown in Fig. 1, an animal carcass l is suspended from its legs 5 bymeans of hooks 6 carried by movable hangers 7 suitably mounted onrollers or trucks 8 grooved to travel along an overheadrail 9.. Thecarcass so suspended may be readily moved along the rail from one roomto another by means of the truck and hanger shown. The operation ofsplitting the carcass may be performed at any place it may happen to besuspended by attaching over the rail the locking device 10 whichconstitutes the subj'ect matter of the present invention.

This device consists of an armll formed with bentover clamping end 12adapted to overlie andembrace the upper edge of the rail 9', the saidclamping end being reinforced as by means of ribs 13; and an adjustableaw l l secured thereto as by means of a bolt 15; the adjustment ofthejaw with respect to the clamping end being facilitated by means ofthe teeth 16 formed therebetween. The lower end' of the device is formedto'provide a handle 17, whereby it maybe easily attached and moved upon;and detached from, the rail, "and: has connected therewith a swingingly'mounted carcass hook 18 adapted to engage with the truck hangers. .Theadjustment of the jaw with respect to the clamping. member .isordinarily such that a sufficient gap or opening will be provided forattaching the device readily upon the rail,' but. not so much as topermit of any great side or latera play thereupon. i

As best shown in Fig. 2 the device is adapted to impinge the edges ofthe engaging surface of the clamping member and jawsecured thereto uponthe rail, and to bite thereupon when pressure at the handle end isexerted laterally as by the weight of the carcass in the position shownin Fig. 1. hen attached upon a rail with its hook secured to the truckhangers, as shown in the drawing, the weight of the carcass tends tobring the hangers together with the result that the locking deviceengages with the rail tightly to prevent inward movement of the hangers.After the operation of splitting has been completed the two halves ofthe carcass remain each suspended upon one of the truck hangers, and maybe moved along the rail without interference when the locking device issimply detached therefro-m.

It is obvious that, with the hook formed the device may as shown inFigs. 2 and 3,

hanger for an also be used as a stationary animal carcass.

I claim:

1. In combination with a single continuous supporting rail and hangermovable thereupon, a device of the class described comprising an armhaving one end thereof bent in the form of a hook to engage the upperside of said rail, a jaw positioned upon said arm adapted to engage theunder side of said rail, an edge each of said hook end and jaw beingadapted to impinge upon the rail at any point thereupon when the deviceis tilted in either direction longitudinally of the rail whereby itbecomes locked thereupon, and means connecting the free end of said armwith the said movable hanger adapted upon tension to tilt the device,substantially as described.

2. In combination with a single continuous supporting rail and hangermovable thereupon, a device of the class described comprising an armhaving one end thereof bent in the form of a hook to engage the upperside of said rail, a jaw adjustably positioned upon said arm adapted toengage the under side of said rail, an edge each of said hook end andjaw being adapted to impinge upon the rail at any point thereupon whenthe device is tilted in either direction longitudinally of the railwhereby it becomes locked thereupon, and means connecting the free endof said arm with the said movable hanger adapted upon tension to tiltthe device substantially as described.

3. In combination with a single continuous supporting rail and hangermovable thereupon, a device of the class described comprising an armhaving one end thereof bent in the form of a hook to engage the upperside of said rail, a jaw positioned upon said arm adapted to engage theunder side of said rail, an edge each of said hook end and jaw beingadapted to impinge upon the rail when the device is tilted in eitherdirection i longitudinally of the rail whereby it becomes lockedthereupon, and means connecting the free end of said arm with the saidmovable hanger adapted upon tension to tilt the device, substantially asdescribed.

4. In combination with a single continuous supporting rail and hangermovable thereupon, a device of theclass described comprising an armhaving one end thereof bent in the form of a hook to engage the upperside of said rail, a jaw positioned upon said arm adapted to engage theunder side of said rail, an edge each of said hook end and jaw beingadapted to impinge upon the rail at any point thereupon when the deviceis tilted in either direction longitudinally of the rail whereby itbecomes locked thereupon, and a hook-likemembersecured to the free endof said arm for engaging the said movable hanger adapted upon tension totilt the device, substantially as described.

5. In combination with a single continuous supporting rail and hangermovable thereupon, a device of the class described, comprising an armhaving one end thereof bent in the form of a hook to engage the upperside. of said rail, a jaw adjustably positioned upon said arm adapted toengage the under side of said rail, an edgeeach of said hook end and jawbeing adapted toimpinge upon the rail at any point thereupon when thedevice is tilted longitudinally of the rail whereby it becomes lockedthereupon, teeth formed upon one side of said jaw, and teeth adapted toregister therewith formed upon the side of said arm in engagementtherewith to prevent rotary movement of said jaw with respect to saidarm, and means connecting the.

free end of said arm with the said movable hanger adapted upon tenslonto tilt the device, substantially as described.

CHARLES A. RICHARDS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

in either direction

